The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch

Tucson Gets State's First Cannabis Kitchen

State inspectors gave the nod in Tucson on Thursday to the state's first commercial cannabis kitchen, Heavenly Harvest, where staff were making cannabis butter, stuffing ovens and mixing spices to bring their edibles to Green Halo dispensary patients as soon as possible.

"We expect to have a full line of edibles out by Saturday," said Heather Manus, the registered nurse who manages the non-profit associated with the Green Halo dispensary. Both are at 7710 S. Wilmot Road, just off Interstate 10.

Although the former sub shop was already a commercial kitchen, there were additional considerations for handling cannabis, forcing the kitchens opening to lag behind the dispensary by nine days. The line of goodies will include the ubiquitous brownie, cookies, cakes, hard candies and suckers, chocolates, spices, salad oil, tinctures and hot sauce, all carefully dosed so you know what you're getting. They will also stock Green Halo with non-psychoactive ointments for pain relief.

Manus was moved to near tears as the inspectors left Thursday, when she realized the approval was finally happening.

"I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to provide this type of meds," she said later in the day.

Initially, the kitchen will supply edibles for The Green Halo, which is open daily from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. For a map, menu and other information, see TheGreenHalo.org.